Fetal growth restriction (FGR) is a major cause of perinatal mortality and morbidity. FGR is a wide-ranging pregnancy problem with a number of possible mechanisms leading to reduced fetal growth. Only a proportion of pregnancies with FGR show altered maternal peripheral vascular resistance. Some pregnancies with fetal growth restriction have elevated peripheral maternal vascular resistance in uterine arteries and hence poor perinatal outcome. Such pregnancies, if resistance values are normalized in later trimesters have a significantly better outcome (¹). Sildenafil citrate increases uterine blood flow and potentiates estrogen-induced vasodilation (²). In this paper, a case of early onset fetal growth restriction was reported where administration of Sildenafil citrate could normalize the uteroplacental insufficiency with a favorable fetal outcome.

A 32 year old G4P0L0A3 attended our Out Patient Department (OPD) in January 2013 with 12 weeks of pregnancy. She had regular antenatal check-ups, until 14 weeks; she required an emergency cerclage for cervical incompetence. She had a normal anomaly scan with no other co-morbid condition. At 26 weeks and 3 days, on clinical suspicion of oligohydramnios, ultrasound with Doppler was performed. The case had reduced amniotic flow index with reduced umbilical artery diastolic flow, middle cerebral artery brain sparing effect and estimated fetal weight of around 600 gr. She was then admitted to hospital for further management. A repeat ultrasonography after 3 days showed absent umbilical artery end diastolic flow with brain sparing effect. In the umbilical artery Doppler, pulsatility index (PI) was 1.28, resistive index (RI) was 0.64 and systole/diastole ratio (S/D) was 3.47. Next, Sildenafil citrate 50 mg BD was used and its amount gradually increased in 7 days to 50 mg TDS with continuous fetal surveillance. Doppler showed improved uteroplacental blood flow with estimated fetal weight of around 800 gr and hence pregnancy could be continued to another 3 weeks. Now, PI was 0.81, RI was 0.40 and S/D was 2.22. With the diagnosis of FGR with uteroplacental insufficiency, surveillance continued with ultrasonography and Doppler. Unfortunately, Doppler again showed absent end diastolic flow after a few days and 2 doses of 12 mg betamethasone injection were administered for her 24 hr apart. Repeat Doppler after 3 days showed reversed end diastolic flow. At a gestational age of 30 weeks, then, patient and her husband were counseled regarding the need for emergency Caesarean section and the associated risks of perinatal morbidity and mortality. A live male baby of 800 gr was delivered and shifted to Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) for further management. After 80 days of NICU care, the baby was finally discharged healthy with a weight of 2.3 kg. After 1 month of discharge, mother and infant came for follow up and both were doing perfectly well. Also, the infant was checked by pediatrician and was found healthy.

In pregnancies with fetal growth restriction and without preeclampsia, a reversible increased myo-metrial arterial tone by phosphodiesterase inhibition has been reported in vitro (³). Sildenafil citrate induces vasodilation through inhibition of type 5 phosphodiesterase (PDE5) (⁴). PDE5 is responsible for the degradation of cGMP to guano-sine monophosphate. Therefore, inhibiting PDE5 delays the breakdown of cGMP and increases vasodilation (⁵). A recent report suggested that Sildenafil citrate stimulates vasodilation in myo-metrial biopsies collected from IUGR pregnancies at the time of Cesarean section (⁴).

In this study, Sildenafil with fetal growth restriction was used in an attempt to induce vasodilatation and improve uteroplacental perfusion resulting in improved Doppler indices.

Currently, there is no effective therapy for severe early-onset FGR. Sildenafil citrate vasodilates the myometrial arteries isolated from women with IUGR-complicated pregnancies. Sildenafil treatment was associated with increased fetal AC growth (⁶).

To achieve optimal fetal growth, adequate blood flow in uteroplacental vascular function is essential. Abnormal vasculature adaptation, resulting in aberrant blood flow, has been implicated as a possible cause of fetal growth restriction (FGR) though Samangaya et al. ruled out prolonged pregnancy in women with preeclampsia using Sil-denafil (⁷). Sildenafil, as a vasodilator has also emerged as a potential management option in the treatment of FGR and preeclampsia by later normalization in velocimetric profile.